Because communication is an essential 21st-century skill, we will explore multiple ways to share information and ideas in this course. Many of those explorations will be online. As the year progresses, students will discuss ideas, share and comment on resources, take digital assessments, explore digital tools, blog and comment on blogs, and build digital portfolios. It is important that students learn to read and write in digital forms as well as more traditional ones. The following digital learning spaces will be used for reading, writing, connecting, and sharing in this course.
GENERAL RESOURCES
stmesla6 The evolving course schedule, lesson plans, assignments, and resources can be accessed here, on this wiki, learning central for the course.
Collaborize This online classroom platform in a “walled garden” format (only students within the class, or others such as parents or other educators who are specifically invited, will be able to see student work) allows for discussion forums that promote critical thinking and writing, polling (quizzes), and posting of links to resources, videos and photographs, “flipped” lessons, etc. Students will learn basic online course etiquette, reflect on discussions with their parents, and explore online resources and assessments. As permission from parents is received, students will be added to their respective classes.
Diigo for Educators This social bookmarking space offers a “walled garden” format where students can share and critique resources as a grade level or “group” In addition, students can highlight and write notes on the materials shared as they archive their bookmarks for their research in the “cloud.” This digital space engages students in collaboration, helps them refine their research skills, and promotes critical reading. Accounts will be created for classroom use. Students do not have to use an email address, and all student profiles are disabled for students under age 13. When permission from parents is received, students will be added to the Diigo group for their class.
Wikispaces (for Educators) As we develop digital portfolios for each student later in the year, we will create individual student pages at a wiki site to be determined.
APPS AND TOOLS
Various applications and tools may be employed during the year. Links will be provided here.
Flashcard Machine This digital flashcard tool is already being used in Spanish. I will be looking into adding flashcards for Language Arts later in the year.
BLOGGING
Because it has become a ubiquitous form of expression and interaction in the digital world, blogging will be explored thoroughly in this course. Blogging allows students to explore different forms of writing, to receive feedback, and to communicate in an authentic way with peers and others.
Edublogs This educational blogging platform set up as a “walled garden” format. We will begin with a class blog, to which students can post, then students will choose from the options below for regular blogging throughout the year. This option will be used primarily for our initial forays into blogging. The following advanced blogging opportunities will be offered to 6th-grade students.
Option 1:Edublogs Continuing basic blogging with individual accounts in a “walled garden” space, students will explore their own blogging topics as well as assigned prompts. Blog posts may be accessed only by invitation.
Option 2:Quadblogging We have an opportunity to participate in a blogging environment on a global scale. Students blog in supervised spaces, partnering with 3 other classrooms (of similar age students) from around the world. We have been assigned two quadblogging partners from the UK and one from Australia for the fall semester. Partners may change in the spring semester. Monitored by sponsoring teachers. (Note: Quadblogging may require that students accounts in Blogger to be made public.)
Option 3:Writer’s Club For advanced and more mature writers, the internationalWriter’s Clubis hosted by Rob Sbaglia at the Castlemaine North Primary School in Victoria, Australia. An international blogging community, this site allows students to choose the writing groups to which they wish to belong, based on their interests. Accounts are set up and maintained by the host teacher. Content is public and loosely monitored by sponsoring teachers. The site is public.
Note: If any parent is uncomfortable with his or her child learning in an online environment, more traditional assignments will be provided. Please contact me if you would prefer this option for your child.
Introduction
Because communication is an essential 21st-century skill, we will explore multiple ways to share information and ideas in this course. Many of those explorations will be online. As the year progresses, students will discuss ideas, share and comment on resources, take digital assessments, explore digital tools, blog and comment on blogs, and build digital portfolios. It is important that students learn to read and write in digital forms as well as more traditional ones. The following digital learning spaces will be used for reading, writing, connecting, and sharing in this course.GENERAL RESOURCES
stmesla6
The evolving course schedule, lesson plans, assignments, and resources can be accessed here, on this wiki, learning central for the course.
Collaborize
This online classroom platform in a “walled garden” format (only students within the class, or others such as parents or other educators who are specifically invited, will be able to see student work) allows for discussion forums that promote critical thinking and writing, polling (quizzes), and posting of links to resources, videos and photographs, “flipped” lessons, etc. Students will learn basic online course etiquette, reflect on discussions with their parents, and explore online resources and assessments. As permission from parents is received, students will be added to their respective classes.
Diigo for Educators
This social bookmarking space offers a “walled garden” format where students can share and critique resources as a grade level or “group” In addition, students can highlight and write notes on the materials shared as they archive their bookmarks for their research in the “cloud.” This digital space engages students in collaboration, helps them refine their research skills, and promotes critical reading. Accounts will be created for classroom use. Students do not have to use an email address, and all student profiles are disabled for students under age 13. When permission from parents is received, students will be added to the Diigo group for their class.
Wikispaces (for Educators)
As we develop digital portfolios for each student later in the year, we will create individual student pages at a wiki site to be determined.
APPS AND TOOLS
Various applications and tools may be employed during the year. Links will be provided here.Flashcard Machine
This digital flashcard tool is already being used in Spanish. I will be looking into adding flashcards for Language Arts later in the year.
BLOGGING
Because it has become a ubiquitous form of expression and interaction in the digital world, blogging will be explored thoroughly in this course. Blogging allows students to explore different forms of writing, to receive feedback, and to communicate in an authentic way with peers and others.Edublogs
This educational blogging platform set up as a “walled garden” format. We will begin with a class blog, to which students can post, then students will choose from the options below for regular blogging throughout the year. This option will be used primarily for our initial forays into blogging. The following advanced blogging opportunities will be offered to 6th-grade students.
Option 1: Edublogs
Continuing basic blogging with individual accounts in a “walled garden” space, students will explore their own blogging topics as well as assigned prompts. Blog posts may be accessed only by invitation.
Option 2: Quadblogging
We have an opportunity to participate in a blogging environment on a global scale. Students blog in supervised spaces, partnering with 3 other classrooms (of similar age students) from around the world. We have been assigned two quadblogging partners from the UK and one from Australia for the fall semester. Partners may change in the spring semester. Monitored by sponsoring teachers. (Note: Quadblogging may require that students accounts in Blogger to be made public.)
Option 3: Writer’s Club
For advanced and more mature writers, the international Writer’s Club is hosted by Rob Sbaglia at the Castlemaine North Primary School in Victoria, Australia. An international blogging community, this site allows students to choose the writing groups to which they wish to belong, based on their interests. Accounts are set up and maintained by the host teacher. Content is public and loosely monitored by sponsoring teachers. The site is public.
Note: If any parent is uncomfortable with his or her child learning in an online environment, more traditional assignments will be provided. Please contact me if you would prefer this option for your child.
Download Digital Permissions Forms